apparently it depends on the area and local code. if you have to deal with lots of snow, it's a problem. if zero snow like in Florida, the math is different
A frame and gambrel roof are both mostly efficient lowest lumber cost buildings but only if built traditionally as a beam structure rather than stick structure. Stick is fine for a smaller build..but when you have really long spans of structural material it's much harder with stick construction. Larger structure would need to be steel to avoid engineering costs of wooden beams. The huge lumber of the past is all gone.
You nailed it. They're the type that already live in a 7000 square foot home on Lake Michigan in a gated community. They're more worried about social media clout than anything in their lives. I live in Traverse City. It's ALL people like them here. Entitled, wealthy, snobby, and disconnected from real people.
The fact that they were worried about how their house looks on social media.... Bro I just want to have a place that's livable. This whole influencer thing absolutely nuts
do it! to be clear, we love a-frames. We were just having trouble staying within our budget with the construction industry and climate here in northern michigan.
I was also thinking to build an A-frame (from a kit). But, mathematically, it's not a good idea. The materials do cost more. Heating and cooling aren't fabulous either. The same A-frame kit supplier offers container-like home kits much cheaper for the same dwelling area. Not to mention a container-like home is the easiest to build and as a bonus, you can relocate it if you want. Heating and cooling is also risk free for container homes. I love the A-frame look, but I can build a container home by myself (1 person).
I bought an A-frame on a lake for cheap because the guy was leaving the state. I found it was impractical with lack of floor space. I tore it down to the floor and cut the rafters to make studs. The leftover length of the rafters made the span for the new 2nd floor joists. I didn’t have to buy much to make a new roof for the loft and sheet the loft. I sold it and tripled my money.
I built a 1400+ square foot A-frame last year in North Washington State we too get cold and snow...it was much cheaper to build than my original thought of a logcabin...by combining the roof and walls this saves money yet you do lose living space...I love mine its quaint and rustic yet modern.. I could care less how my A-frame stacks up against any other A-frame on any social media, though...Best Wishes!
to be fair it does make sense(for them), since they're building this as an air bnb. so for economical reasons, they'll have to choose something that'll easily "sell" (or rent out in their case). if it's unique enough, it'll attract more potential customers.
I really, really tried to get your purpose for this video. What im left with is that its not cost affective. I think maybe your area of the country, supply issues and higher builder costs of Northern states are more the issue. Not all Northern states. In Southern Appalachia we build A-frames that are Very cost efficient wich are very affordable. I know in Maine through my builder friends that it's way more efficient and affordable to go with A-frames than traditional which are alot more complicated to build and it gets pretty cold in Maine. So to anyone thinking of an A-frame dont get scared off because of someone else's experience do your own research, just sayin.
Two years from now: Someone will make a video about how they are not going to build a tower design because it's tough to stand out from all the other tower designs. We're building round.
We are building an Avrame Trio 120. We LOVE the style, and especially the wall-of-windows overlooking the creek and meadow below. It's not necessarily about the style of the house as much as it is about the vibe of the whole package. If you offer seclusion, a gorgeous view, nature, nearby activities (Hiking, hunting, fishing, etc.) - and let's not forget the hot tub - you end up with a LOT more to like about a property than simply the style of the house itself. Right? Go with what you love. Besides, the cost to build will be wiped away soon enough if you offer a GREAT package! Good luck!
I have fallen in love with A-frames recently. I have started some new designs and have put up my first animation for a simple A-frame sleepout on my channel.
Great points, l am obsessed with A Frames and it does appear to be a global trend, this type of home has become the architectural zeitgeist. A collective longing for the ambience, the fireplace, the soaring ceilings, the windows, the environment.
Quick question about your lumber package prices. Did you get the AFrame quote when we were still in covid? I know lumber has dropped pretty low this year and I’d be curious what that lumber pack quote would be now on your AFrame.
it was after COVID, but still kind of on the tail end of it. I can't remember what lumber was at then, but most of the cost was driven up by the engineered lumber, not your 2X stuff.
I live in an A frame built in the 1970s - when they were really cool and inexpensive to put up. There are pros and cons, tho, and after remodeling the older bungalow we had in a small metro decided it was time to get out before it got worse. Appreciation on housing had stalled and the 50x100 lots were constrictive, with another bedroom or bath window just ten feet away. Most A frames were put up on a much larger lot - they are a rural lifestyle and that's what we got, .8 acre on the edge of a small town. That doesn't mean it's always flat farmland which should remain in crops - which developers buy up because it's cheaper to build for them to exploit. My lot slopes about 10 feet from the front to back - which made it easy for the original builder to put in two garage doors downstairs - which dont work well, and cause the poured concrete foundation walls to be 50% exposed to winter temps and winds. Don't do that. And they didn't put in a 8 foot ceiling downstairs, which causes plumbing and framing issues. Then, they didn't insulate it well, and the garage half has NONE which causes the associated piping in the back to be freeze prone. Dont do that. Those aren't really A frame issues tho, so here goes: You only get two vertical walls, one on each end, and those rooms become problematic on how you arrange furniture. A bunk bed against the outside sloping roof touches at the top, at bottom, there's enough room to slide another piece of furniture - which is lost. These challenges create limits to what you can do with furniture, and also compromise closets, kitchen cabinets, etc. A floor plan in 2D becomes a mess in 3D when the frig can't be tipped at a 28/12 pitch, right? There is likely a few more vertical walls in a larger A frame down the middle, like ours - 24x50 or so, and those can be used. If so, then a main beam down the middle is required if a full basement is intended, which raised construction costs. Ours was extended to support the back deck - and what A Frame doesn't have a deck - but that makes the steel beam an icicle in the winter pointing at the heart of the interior. Don't do that. It also creates issues with running plumbing and wiring, as you aren't going to drill many holes in it, especially remodeling. Back to A Frame, current codes require there be windows or some kind of light/ventilation/egress across the main length of the building. In 1970 there were no requirements, so, two sides of the house have NO - ZERO - windows or any way out in case of fire. If this is a problem, then putting up a "cross A frame" is a solution, but once again, adds to construction costs. I would probably cost as much as it was originally purchased to add opposite gables now, and would need some serious attention to engineered framing to accomplish. Big A frames have these issues especially if local codes intrude ie, the building lot isn't rural enough. With just two vertical outside walls, it also becomes an attractive solution to put in a lot of windows, which are usually the biggest thermal losers winter or summer. The back of mine had three aluminum patio doors, two downstairs, one upstairs which walked out onto - nothing. Maybe there was a balcony at one time. Those doors would freeze shut solid with condensation in winter, leaving us with just the front door to get out. I've since replaced them all, front and back, with double pane argon filled in vinyl framing, and the heat retention has improved considerably - on a dollar basis our electric bill is about the same as it was 20 years ago. Done right, up front, it would be a best practice. Insulation then? It was one of the first in the area to get SPRAYED foam, done by an inexperienced crew, and ya know, I think I know who did it, as there was a pyramid marketing company out that was pioneering a lot of that then. Its still a good idea - Done Right - and will seal up a lot of cracks and make the place pretty air tight. In fact, after changing out all the windows, flashing and foaming the rough opening etc, I believe our wood stove problem relates to inadequate fresh air intake. You can't live in a vacuum, air has to be considered with a full change regularly to keep down humidity, odors, mold and more if there is combustion in your heating source. It's not just going to frame up and be good, we now know a lot of homes are too well sealed - with air coming back in thru bath, range, and exhaust vents. Worst case, a fireplace or wood stove tries to suck in cold air down the chimney, which makes a real smoke show when you open it up. Constructor, be aware, run the math, and allow for adequate air exchange. I didn't have this problem in the old house - single pane windows leaked, etc, but here I do. With all this in mind, an A frame properly constructed is something to consider - knowing you will be living in a two story attic. The roof slopes to the floor and you have to plan for that. Explore how it's going to work - we were used to it because our upper bedroom was in the framing of the roof line in the hipped bungalow. Moving into a full attic, so to speak, was comfortable. But like a small trailer - 5x8 for camping - it's not expansive in some respects and new habits have to be explored and new solutions entertained. Would we move out now? Not so much - we are secure, paid for, and settled. Nor do we know any kooks who would buy it - but it seems a new generation is coming up who might - especially after we remodel the dining room into a kitchen (no way would we go months with none at all.) The old kitchen was framed up with lost space in angles to make straight cabinets work, and that doesn't cut it. You can't approach an A frame with a tract house set of expectations, it requires new solutions many aren't familiar with.
Totally depends on where you’re building your a frame. If you’re building them as an off grid small cabin like you’re supposed to. They ain’t that bad. Lived in one in Alaska.
I am confused by this. First, I live in the deep south so maybe it's my ignorance...but it seems that in Northern Michigan snow removal would be a major consideration. Seems like the A frame could handle a heavy snow much better than that tower build. Who is going to drive to the UP every week or so to remove snow from the flat roof of the tower build? Maybe there's a good reason A frames are popular up there.
I'm a builder in Northern Michigan. We're over in Alpena and do not see a lot of A-frames. There are a few and I've always been intrigued by them and have also considered a build out for a short term rental. Another cost efficient method I am considering is a mountain style (shed roof). Its interesting to see how different styles come and go and how people tend to gravitate back to the old school simple methods!
I happen to be building an A-Frame in the next town over from you. I'm going for one over a basement, so it's effectively a normal house, sunk halfway into the ground. Antrim county is beautiful.
Be careful with hitting the windows to get rid of a mosquito. I broke a windshield one time. I didn't realize that after the car was in 120F all day the windows don't need to much pressure to break.
I'm glad I found this. I'm also in Michigan and have been tossing around an A frame construction like yours (just not elevated). Sounds like it isn't as cheap as I thought it would be
Yeah, to hell with AirBnd. They're tying up housing. There's a housing shortage. People need full-time homes, Vacationers can get a camper or something.
We had one drawn up and put builder is charging $240/sqft. It’ll be in northern NM. It’s 1000sqft and lumber quote was $115k! I think that’s steep and will shop around.
5:36 - That style of adding onto an A-frame makes a lot of sense. It also makes it stand out among other typical designs. The addition is a great place to put the bathroom and utilities, and doesn't have to cost a ton. *One thing to consider:* Some _VERY_ profitable rentals were built on the cheap with bare-bones amenities - as the *location* is more important to the guests than the comforts of a modern house. Many people who rent these places simply want a quaint "rustic" getaway in nature, and will spend most of their time outdoors, not the house itself. Thus the outdoor amenities - like a porch with furniture, a fire pit, hot tub, etc. - are perhaps more important than a pristine modern interior.
There are a couple large old A frames in my neighborhood. They stand out in from the craftsman style and Tudors that were popular in the area at the time.
I built a 1200 sq ft A Frame in South Texas on Canyon Lake. It is high spec house wrapped in cedar with a standing seam metal roof backed by titanium sheeting to protect against hail which will kill a roof in my area. Not cheap at all as I could have built a normal 3000 sq foot house for the same money. My house is on a slope so I had concrete piers poured on top of huge block footers that go down to the Texas limestone. I spent $60K on the foundation engineering and materials alone (2012). I am a retired engineer who worked in Seattle, Philly and Texas for that famous aerospace company years ago so my house is definitely overbuilt. I also have 2 X 6 outer walls and spray foam as well as composite laminated beams in the floors and my rafters are also spray foamed as well as the underfloor area. I have a wood stove that gets me through the occasional power outage in the winter and the house is all electric and on a aerobic septic system. I maintain a 75 degree temperature year round (I mostly COOL the house with a/c as it is South Texas) and you can feel the temperature drop as you step into it from the plus 100 degree heat most spring/summer/fall days. It is located across the street that fronts the lake, and the edge of my first floor deck is 14 feet above the ground. It is nestled in live oak trees and folks refer to it as the tree house. The view is outstanding and the sunsets are fantastic. And it is the ONLY A frame on my street as Texans prefer more massive style homes. My tiny house stands out in the crowd. Plus being tiny for a Texas house my property taxes are also tiny as you are taxed on square footage and I just have a 2 bedroom 2 bath. A frames are not for everyone but if you do one correctly you will have a house that will stand out from the crowd.
@@Outdoor-Hour I bought my plans from a plan service and downloaded a pdf which I gave to the builder to make full size prints from. The designer is from Vancouver BC so I had to retrofit air conditioning as the plan only had baseboard heating. I'd look into the new mini split a/c systems for a 700 sq ft place in Texas.
Look up deek diedrickson. I built a tiny a frame for a couple thousand dollars based on his plans. That wasn’t with salvaging materials other than a bit of siding- talking a real steel door with double locks, sliding screened windows, laminate flooring, solar powered interior lights, etc
We are building a 1400 sq ft aframe in Washington state in the Cascades. Our state building codes are more strict than Michigan (I know because I am from michigan and have built there). We have heavy snow and earthquakes (something Michiganians don't deal with). Our aframe will have a standing seam metal roof, like the one noted in this video. Our build costs are $250 per sq ft. That doesn't include septic ($25k), electricity extension ($20k), final appliances, or the price of land. But it does include the foundation. The costs discussed in this video made me bust out laughing. Getting engineered lumber, roofing, and insulation is not that difficult or all that expensive. R Value requirements also don't require spray foam. We are managing our own project, not using a general contractor, which only doubles costs.
Great job on your video and very good points as well. Maybe because I'm not from a social media generation, but for me I have zero thought of standing out or not. An A-Frame can do well with spray foam insulation, foundation with insulation and in floor heating/HVAC provided by geo-thermal. Geo-thermal BTW even works exceptionally well even in Northern Mi where I also live (Cheboygan). Spray foam and geo-thermal are both items that make you cry once but pay huge dividends in the long run. My older home (but well insulated) has a 15 year old geo-thermal system and my biggest electric bill in the coldest winter months has never exceeded $240. I'm also a big user of electric in general.
totally understand and if you're not building an a-frame for a business purpose like we were, I'm all for them. We'd still love to build one someday. Agreed on the spray and in-floor comment. Initial price is hard to swallow, but long-term efficiency makes it worth it. We are doing that on the smaller cabin build we just started.
I will bet 95 percent of builders have never built an A Frame. When inexperience makes them scared, the price goes up. Most prefer to build what they know.
I live in tropical country without snow and logs and Wood are pretty cheap here. Is building A shape house like this will cost more efficient than building a traditional concrete house?
I live in tropical country as well.. I'm considering build the second floor out of wood because it's cheaper, probably.. but what about the insulation since the location is directly in equator and it's very hot here..
Hm... The metal material for the roof (trapeze sheet metal), thickness of.. 0.6mm (with insulation felt) we pay usually around 9 dollars per square meter (10.7639104 square feet), so it comes about less than 1 dollar per square foot. I dont know why over there the materials are so expensive..
I'd like to see the cost of an A-frame and a Geodesic dome house of similar floor area to see where the cost-benefits land. My guess is the geodesic house would not be as visually attractive as an A-frame but would cost less to build.
A-frames are simple and cheap to build, as long as you design them on the basis of which materials you have access to. For instance, back in the 60s-70s, you'd find 24' long dimensionnal lumber, which is not the case anymore. That being said, you'll find 20' long dimensionnal lumber pretty much everywhere. For instance, a 2x10x20 currently sells for less than 30 CAD in Quebec. Obviously, that would make the cabin a lot smaller than what you were working on, but that explains the price difference.
agreed. I think you have to be very intentional and have a good architect that has experience with a-frames. Ours was engineered to death and caused the material price to sky-rocket.
We have property on Beaver Island MI. Honestly most of the cost for us is LABOR! doing it ourselves will save a ton of $$. We arent building as big as your images as well so we wont need as much material. hope it goes well for your build.
love Beaver Island! Yes, labor is definitely a large line item too. We strongly considered doing it ourselves, but we live 4 hours away and both work full-time. My guess is that it would take us at least twice as long to build it if we went that route, which is time that it could be rented and cash flowing. Depending on area and financials, the amount saved doing it yourself could be offset from lost income by having it in service sooner, if you're planning on making in a rental. If not, DIY is definitely the way to go.
There’s pros and cons to every housing style. Depends on what you want. Makes sense why you chose what you did. I would sacrifice living space for an A-frame. But I decided to live in a ranch style house built in 51, rather than a bigger two-three story house that looks like a box with what I consider no character. It comes with some challenges as beating and cooling isn’t as effective. All down to preference.
I guess I'm not understanding why you need so much "engineered" lumber for "roof support" when the walls are pitched at such steep angles. Yes, you get a lotta snow. But it's not a snow load anywhere near that of a traditional or flat roof.
we considered it! And that certainly would've helped some, but we live 3.5 hours away from the build site and just wasn't feasible. Plus, it would've taken us much longer to do it ourselves and there's an opportunity cost for that too.
@NorthofNowhere. I understand. We're 8.5 hours from where our property is, and yes, it's definitely taking alot longer than I was expecting. Good luck with you're build. Hope everything works out for you guys.
The surface area of the roof is going to contribute to a lot of the cost. For a 60 sq meters (646 sq fr) - 6 by 10 meters (20 by 33 ft) house ... The surface area of the roof is 70 degree : 175 sq meters (1,884 sq ft), floor to roof height: 4.46 meters (14.63 ft) 60 degree : 120 sq meters (1,292 sq ft), floor to roof height: 4.05 meters (13.29 ft) 55 degree : 105 sq meters (1,130 sq ft), floor to roof height: 3.80 meters (12.47 ft) 50 degree : 93 sq meters (1,001 sq ft), floor to roof height: 3.54 meters (11.61 ft) 45 degree : 85 sq meters (915 sq ft), floor to roof height: 3.25 meters (10.66 ft) If you don't like stairs you could go with no upper floors, and e.g. a 55 degree roof.
Don't see too many A-Frames in mountains around SoCal - ones that do come on the market are snapped up instantly- maybe a day on the market or have a bidding war. So resale isn't a problem.
2020 lumber prices were insane. I’m sure if you quoted it night the price will be way more reasonable. Your point about the saturation of A frames on the market is super valid though! Looking forward to seeing how you guys put a twist on the A-Frame!
hmm..good question. I don't think the 2x10's would span as far as we needed, and obviously are more prone to warping and and twisting over time. I don't think our building department would allow it.
Great video and thanks for sharing your experience. There are so many variables in this process, such as location. We built our Aframe (3550sqft) in the Midwest and managed to come in at $250-$260 / sqft (~$230 / sqft excluding land cost). We went with a kit from one of the companies you mentioned (~$90K cost for LVL lumber, sheathing, etc.) We got extremely lucky with our contractor who was will commit to a cost+ contract. This gave us much needed flexibility and transparency throughout the build. Also, building a larger cabin helps with cost efficiency as well. Doing this is only pragmatic if there's demand for larger capacity stays in your area.
awesome to hear that you guys were able to build one! Location is definitely a huge factor for us, as well as the lack of builders up here. The fixed costs of building is something we've learned along the way! Is it a personal cabin for you guys are a rental?
Just found your channel and have subscribed. Good content. Where will you be building? I notice you wearing a Short’s hat; my wife and I just purchased property in Antrim County to be closer to family. We will be building our home in the near future so will be following your journey to learn what I can.
I think Scandinavian homes are the best fit for the North side of the USA and Canada. A 1 and 1/2-story home would offer a better dwelling area than A-frame, an ideal slope for solar panels ( 40-55 degrees) and won't break the bank.
My Dad built one for my family when I was a kid. My parents broke up so we never got to live in it. I have land I'm going to build a mini A-frame to see if it is still what I want. I don't care about trends. I haven't seen any new A-frames built here in Australia. Pity about the cost over there and so many popping up.
And when you build an "elevated" A-frame, what you're really doing is building a trad house with a huge roof. THAT'S why it was going to be so expensive. That and you were going to hire someone else to do it for you. You are supposed to build the A-frame yourself. Simple construction, it's a triangle so it's super-strong, lot's of storage on the floor. But, to each his own.
Don't know what's exactly expensive, it's a timber frame construction,less complicated than standard timber frame house,an 250mm insulation will give you a an ur rating of 0.16-0.18 ,the A frame wall/roof area is basically the same as a one storey houses wall+roof area. Steel sheet roof is cheaper then wooden cladding which is painted and then needs to be repainted every 5 year's.
Well dude , you have a wife. I am looking to build whatever I want, wives are making it a LOT more difficult. Good luck with that adventure. The whole point of me having a cabin would be to NOT have a wife, which changes the whole layout plan. I am thinking cedar and stuff now, walls are optional, it's whatever !. Freedom is awesome, totally underrated lifestyle nowadays. I have lived downtown with all the fancy people in suits and dresses and I absolutely hated going out, every time and it's hard to pretend it's fun to be surrounded by loud people. The peace and quiet = priceless. Me going out with other people and whomever, someone is one bad joke away from being slapped at the gala. If I hear one more robot voice saying "error" or "please", I am going to scream because I am now anti- chip, microchips are a bad idea. I will use a digital studio for music, entertainment but I don't need this for a cabin so, I believe my studio will stay here for a long time. The only issue is my fish...they weigh you down, they can live a long time but they are nothing like dogs, fish need a warm spot. I can only leave them for a few days here or there, feeding blocks. I'd like to be close to some decent water for fishing or kayaking in the northwoods, preferably not Mn because because of rules and regulations, otherwise not bad land, I love Leech Lake and that is beautiful spot to fish. Iron river Wisconsin, maybe there somewhere not far from Michigan upper peninsula or anywhere up there is nice. I am a weird guy, don't want any attention, if I wanted then I can break some silly world records, but nah forget viral videos. If I wanted to make money then it's better than Onlyfans option, for me. Do anything that can get attention is all that matters. Do a parlor trick, that's all you needed to do. Learn to nunchuk and then be like, hah...look at this. You can learn any tricks if you wanted enough. The tricks people do now, are literally played out and there's gonna be many consequences for people's actions once they settle in and make sense. One of those consequences is marriage, you would need to be dumb to marry someone in 2025, sorry but good luck everyone ?. I don't think many more people will be officially married, least not in the USA. These young guys care more about Superman comics than their girlfriends, you can insult those but not Superman, don't insult his hero's pants. Seriously not kidding, I can say whatever I want to a female online and nobody cares, If I insult Superman I get hate mail for days, weeks...how dare you bro ?. What is even your problem, bro ?. Ahaha. I don't think we have many more besides off grid options, in the future and eventually my fish and my studio probably will go up north too, I don't need people anymore for any reason. You guys will not recover society, my future in nature looks promising but nobody living in society has a bright future, sorry. You guys are just blind and slow to process the info that's in our faces. The option or decision to continue society on a shaky path or slope was intentionally planned out, people fell into a financial trap and then fell off the slope picking up 100$ bills. A good viral social experiment is the 100$ bill experiment, NOT...I already seen what people will do for loose 100$ bills and it's primal. Whoever thought society could possibly survive teenage girls doing Onlyfans to support themselves in college is delusional and will now suffer, for the short remainder of life. The things I am saying, sorry but it is important if people like or not, people will not recover from this and everyone will be off grid in 10 years, you guys made the right move early.
I appreciate anyone that takes the time of making content that's more than them just goofing around on the camera, with that in mind however I feel like people coming your channel should know that you're not here building this stuff for your own personal use, and I definitely feel like the title of your video is kind of I wouldn't say clickbait but it definitely makes someone who doesn't know what your channel is about go oh no what's wrong with a frames I better click it
A Frames are for short people. And If you can build yourself the tower design is way more efficient way to build. A Frames are easy but the roofing is costly for the net square footage. They go up quick but interior space is limited.
Is that a 3-story tower? I would not build a 3-story tower without an elevator (and that elevator is adding like15-20k) That's how you stand out on AirBnb😀
7:39 - I bet Airbnb did that change because it means more profit for them; the company doesn't want customers to be enticed by lower cost "mom & pop" offerings. They want people to splurge on emotion & luxury. Sort of like how car manufacturers will advertise their expensive flagship models more in an effort to steer buyers away from their lower profit ones.
Lower MI is much different than upper MI. More builders and competition leads to better pricing, so that could help! It can be done, but a lot of what you read online is vastly different than what you hear when you start talking to builders.
Dishing builders of 50s and 60s like that was just wrong on so many levels! Those people were more skilled and their work often was ten times better than workers of today! Otherwise thanks for the info! I think the problem is that A Frames are very popular today and for that reason builders tend to give bigger prices as well.
I didn't dish the builders. I simply said building codes and ordinances were not nearly as robust back then, which is true. Agree on the popularity leading to higher cost too!
Interesting information and well presented. I really liked the input on changes to Air B&B that could impact a property if you were renting it or A-B&Bing it. I have been researching building an a-frame because of the snow load problem in Alaska and cutting costs compared to traditional box building. With 1 caveat I found pretty much the direct opposite on costs though. The caveat is that contractors (the average contractor) typically doesn't know what to do with nontraditional building techniques and either doesn't know how to bid it or just ask stupid prices hoping you go away but will build it if you are dumb enough to pay them. I actually had two contractors tell me $400 a square foot is that number for them (in the height of covid). One also told me they treat each floor as the same square footage as the bottom floor even if it's just a loft on each end.
Fascinating! The choice of design and where the construction takes place can absolutely make a big difference in terms of costs, something we experienced firsthand. I'd imagine that Northern Michigan shares similarities with Alaska in the sense that we both face a shortage of builders, leading to minimal competition and inflated estimates being offered in hopes of landing some lucrative projects. When you factor in that a majority of individuals are purchasing homes using cash up here due to some of the most desirable lakefront property in the Midwest, it certainly adds to the challenges. Best of luck with your build!
that certainly is a benefit, but I think in more recent years the geometry and eye appeal of them is what has caused a wave of them to be built. You're seeing them in climates that hardly get any snow.
@@NorthofNowhere. Yea fair enough. Being from Europe things are a bit different here. We have building regulations so you couldn't build one where it doesn't fit.
Interesting video! Have some property under contract near Jackson hole and was wanting to build an A frame for air bnb as well but may look into other options. Thanks!
Love Jackson Hole! Was just there last year hiking in the Tetons. I'm pro A-frame if you can find a contractor to build one affordably and if they're aren't 100 other A-frames in your area already. There are a bunch near us and being built which was a big factor in our decision. Keep us posted if you start building!
One of my friends lived in a yurt there in Jackson. The area is/was called yurt-ville , it had on site laundry, bathrooms and showers. I don't know if it still exists because at the time around 2005-10 the property was owned by a woman in her 90s. All the yurt ville residents were not sure if she have to sell her land to the national park yurt ville sits on . Property owning is very strange in Jackson, you can own the home but not the land it sits on its a lease . Even stranger if you want and qualify to buy a home there under market value you are placed on a waiting list , my friend was on the waiting list for 9yrs. The program is designed for the residents of Jackson that are fireman, police, teachers nurses and any PT therapist ( my friend is a PT ) all those salaries are too low to buy a regular home, TH condo ect in Jackson. It was program developed by town of Jackson. Without this program these people w these occupations would have to live min 3hrs++ away to afford it to commute to Jackson to work.
that is so interesting. I remember looking at real estate price while we were there and it was shocking to see some of the prices for 1000 sqft condos. Makes total sense why they created that program, but kind of a bummer when it comes to people like you trying to build!
Great explanation and story telling, but surely it was just the size that made it a no go. I dont feel like A frames are supposed to be anywhere near the sixe you huys were going for. Most ive ever stayed in here and europe, theyre basically a small living room/kitchen/bathroom downstairs and a very small bedroom upstairs. Yours was goong to be a mansion 😅
@@NorthofNowhere. For a traditional home, I suppose not. Bit for an A frame, that's huge. The average house size here in the UK is just less than 1000 square foot haha
Absolutely phenomenal video ! I am about to build a home in the mountains and was looking at an A-Frame. This has made me seriously re think that idea! Also, I cannot find anyone who can build one so there is also that…….
It's not complex but you do need three people usually if there is wind and the aframe is large as the panels are long and bendy and will damage if bent. But I kinda had fun putting mine on
Do you guys like A-frames? We certainly do!
Im obsessed with them, yurts, cob building, and anything fun
apparently it depends on the area and local code. if you have to deal with lots of snow, it's a problem. if zero snow like in Florida, the math is different
@@dansouza1623 What you mean a problem? A-frame are made for areas with lots of snow.
A frame and gambrel roof are both mostly efficient lowest lumber cost buildings but only if built traditionally as a beam structure rather than stick structure. Stick is fine for a smaller build..but when you have really long spans of structural material it's much harder with stick construction. Larger structure would need to be steel to avoid engineering costs of wooden beams. The huge lumber of the past is all gone.
You guys designed the A-frame house so beautifully
Came here for actual information about building an A frame, instead I got rich people complaining about being rich.
😂 same here ❤
You nailed it. They're the type that already live in a 7000 square foot home on Lake Michigan in a gated community. They're more worried about social media clout than anything in their lives. I live in Traverse City. It's ALL people like them here. Entitled, wealthy, snobby, and disconnected from real people.
The fact that they were worried about how their house looks on social media.... Bro I just want to have a place that's livable. This whole influencer thing absolutely nuts
Yep me yo , in actual fact they are cheaper to build. These people live in their own world.
I'm still gonna build an A frame
do it! to be clear, we love a-frames. We were just having trouble staying within our budget with the construction industry and climate here in northern michigan.
I was also thinking to build an A-frame (from a kit). But, mathematically, it's not a good idea.
The materials do cost more. Heating and cooling aren't fabulous either.
The same A-frame kit supplier offers container-like home kits much cheaper for the same dwelling area.
Not to mention a container-like home is the easiest to build and as a bonus, you can relocate it if you want.
Heating and cooling is also risk free for container homes.
I love the A-frame look, but I can build a container home by myself (1 person).
I bought an A-frame on a lake for cheap because the guy was leaving the state. I found it was impractical with lack of floor space. I tore it down to the floor and cut the rafters to make studs. The leftover length of the rafters made the span for the new 2nd floor joists. I didn’t have to buy much to make a new roof for the loft and sheet the loft. I sold it and tripled my money.
The value in an a frame is simplicity and low cost if you keep it simple… and do it yourself. Hiring someone else, well, it’s going to be pricey.
I built a 1400+ square foot A-frame last year in North Washington State we too get cold and snow...it was much cheaper to build than my original thought of a logcabin...by combining the roof and walls this saves money yet you do lose living space...I love mine its quaint and rustic yet modern.. I could care less how my A-frame stacks up against any other A-frame on any social media, though...Best Wishes!
How much did it cost you?
Yeah, how much was the overall cost in the end?
@@ryanr.8077 17.3% less expensive
I’m looking to build one in west NC near Asheville. Any chance I could pick your brain about your build?
@@dsgant1616
All of you would need to crunch the numbers yourself. It would not be the same in different states.
Alright….so you might have wanted to state you guys never planned on living in it, and that your intention was to use this as an Airbnb business.
Right?! Ty
I can't imagine 'standing out on social media' being a criteria for the type of home I choose.
we're building this for a rental. If we're talking personal residence, I agree and could care less.
what is the hierarchy of best air bnb designs?@@NorthofNowhere.
@@NorthofNowhere.lol. You said in your video that stand out on social media. FFS.
@@DavidBute-wf1qm yes, for a short term rental.
to be fair it does make sense(for them), since they're building this as an air bnb. so for economical reasons, they'll have to choose something that'll easily "sell" (or rent out in their case). if it's unique enough, it'll attract more potential customers.
I really, really tried to get your purpose for this video. What im left with is that its not cost affective. I think maybe your area of the country, supply issues and higher builder costs of Northern states are more the issue. Not all Northern states. In Southern Appalachia we build A-frames that are Very cost efficient wich are very affordable. I know in Maine through my builder friends that it's way more efficient and affordable to go with A-frames than traditional which are alot more complicated to build and it gets pretty cold in Maine. So to anyone thinking of an A-frame dont get scared off because of someone else's experience do your own research, just sayin.
Two years from now: Someone will make a video about how they are not going to build a tower design because it's tough to stand out from all the other tower designs. We're building round.
could happen!
Prob him lol
😂😂😂😂… we’re building a egg 🥚
We are building an Avrame Trio 120. We LOVE the style, and especially the wall-of-windows overlooking the creek and meadow below. It's not necessarily about the style of the house as much as it is about the vibe of the whole package. If you offer seclusion, a gorgeous view, nature, nearby activities (Hiking, hunting, fishing, etc.) - and let's not forget the hot tub - you end up with a LOT more to like about a property than simply the style of the house itself. Right? Go with what you love. Besides, the cost to build will be wiped away soon enough if you offer a GREAT package! Good luck!
Im convinced. I definitely want an a frame.
I have fallen in love with A-frames recently. I have started some new designs and have put up my first animation for a simple A-frame sleepout on my channel.
Great points, l am obsessed with A Frames and it does appear to be a global trend, this type of home has become the architectural zeitgeist. A collective longing for the ambience, the fireplace, the soaring ceilings, the windows, the environment.
Quick question about your lumber package prices. Did you get the AFrame quote when we were still in covid? I know lumber has dropped pretty low this year and I’d be curious what that lumber pack quote would be now on your AFrame.
it was after COVID, but still kind of on the tail end of it. I can't remember what lumber was at then, but most of the cost was driven up by the engineered lumber, not your 2X stuff.
I live in an A frame built in the 1970s - when they were really cool and inexpensive to put up. There are pros and cons, tho, and after remodeling the older bungalow we had in a small metro decided it was time to get out before it got worse. Appreciation on housing had stalled and the 50x100 lots were constrictive, with another bedroom or bath window just ten feet away.
Most A frames were put up on a much larger lot - they are a rural lifestyle and that's what we got, .8 acre on the edge of a small town. That doesn't mean it's always flat farmland which should remain in crops - which developers buy up because it's cheaper to build for them to exploit. My lot slopes about 10 feet from the front to back - which made it easy for the original builder to put in two garage doors downstairs - which dont work well, and cause the poured concrete foundation walls to be 50% exposed to winter temps and winds. Don't do that. And they didn't put in a 8 foot ceiling downstairs, which causes plumbing and framing issues. Then, they didn't insulate it well, and the garage half has NONE which causes the associated piping in the back to be freeze prone.
Dont do that. Those aren't really A frame issues tho, so here goes: You only get two vertical walls, one on each end, and those rooms become problematic on how you arrange furniture. A bunk bed against the outside sloping roof touches at the top, at bottom, there's enough room to slide another piece of furniture - which is lost. These challenges create limits to what you can do with furniture, and also compromise closets, kitchen cabinets, etc. A floor plan in 2D becomes a mess in 3D when the frig can't be tipped at a 28/12 pitch, right?
There is likely a few more vertical walls in a larger A frame down the middle, like ours - 24x50 or so, and those can be used. If so, then a main beam down the middle is required if a full basement is intended, which raised construction costs. Ours was extended to support the back deck - and what A Frame doesn't have a deck - but that makes the steel beam an icicle in the winter pointing at the heart of the interior. Don't do that. It also creates issues with running plumbing and wiring, as you aren't going to drill many holes in it, especially remodeling.
Back to A Frame, current codes require there be windows or some kind of light/ventilation/egress across the main length of the building. In 1970 there were no requirements, so, two sides of the house have NO - ZERO - windows or any way out in case of fire. If this is a problem, then putting up a "cross A frame" is a solution, but once again, adds to construction costs. I would probably cost as much as it was originally purchased to add opposite gables now, and would need some serious attention to engineered framing to accomplish. Big A frames have these issues especially if local codes intrude ie, the building lot isn't rural enough.
With just two vertical outside walls, it also becomes an attractive solution to put in a lot of windows, which are usually the biggest thermal losers winter or summer. The back of mine had three aluminum patio doors, two downstairs, one upstairs which walked out onto - nothing. Maybe there was a balcony at one time. Those doors would freeze shut solid with condensation in winter, leaving us with just the front door to get out. I've since replaced them all, front and back, with double pane argon filled in vinyl framing, and the heat retention has improved considerably - on a dollar basis our electric bill is about the same as it was 20 years ago. Done right, up front, it would be a best practice.
Insulation then? It was one of the first in the area to get SPRAYED foam, done by an inexperienced crew, and ya know, I think I know who did it, as there was a pyramid marketing company out that was pioneering a lot of that then. Its still a good idea - Done Right - and will seal up a lot of cracks and make the place pretty air tight. In fact, after changing out all the windows, flashing and foaming the rough opening etc, I believe our wood stove problem relates to inadequate fresh air intake. You can't live in a vacuum, air has to be considered with a full change regularly to keep down humidity, odors, mold and more if there is combustion in your heating source. It's not just going to frame up and be good, we now know a lot of homes are too well sealed - with air coming back in thru bath, range, and exhaust vents. Worst case, a fireplace or wood stove tries to suck in cold air down the chimney, which makes a real smoke show when you open it up. Constructor, be aware, run the math, and allow for adequate air exchange. I didn't have this problem in the old house - single pane windows leaked, etc, but here I do.
With all this in mind, an A frame properly constructed is something to consider - knowing you will be living in a two story attic. The roof slopes to the floor and you have to plan for that. Explore how it's going to work - we were used to it because our upper bedroom was in the framing of the roof line in the hipped bungalow. Moving into a full attic, so to speak, was comfortable. But like a small trailer - 5x8 for camping - it's not expansive in some respects and new habits have to be explored and new solutions entertained. Would we move out now? Not so much - we are secure, paid for, and settled. Nor do we know any kooks who would buy it - but it seems a new generation is coming up who might - especially after we remodel the dining room into a kitchen (no way would we go months with none at all.) The old kitchen was framed up with lost space in angles to make straight cabinets work, and that doesn't cut it. You can't approach an A frame with a tract house set of expectations, it requires new solutions many aren't familiar with.
Totally depends on where you’re building your a frame. If you’re building them as an off grid small cabin like you’re supposed to. They ain’t that bad. Lived in one in Alaska.
location is a major factor.
The quality of this Video is so immaculate that when I saw you only had 1.6k subs I was shocked. Love this content. keep making more videos.
thanks so much! We will!
also surprised and also subbed
I almost did it too… concept was A-Frame as a mid-western Teepee on rural land in Cherokee influenced NE, OK.
I am confused by this. First, I live in the deep south so maybe it's my ignorance...but it seems that in Northern Michigan snow removal would be a major consideration. Seems like the A frame could handle a heavy snow much better than that tower build.
Who is going to drive to the UP every week or so to remove snow from the flat roof of the tower build? Maybe there's a good reason A frames are popular up there.
I'm a builder in Northern Michigan. We're over in Alpena and do not see a lot of A-frames. There are a few and I've always been intrigued by them and have also considered a build out for a short term rental. Another cost efficient method I am considering is a mountain style (shed roof). Its interesting to see how different styles come and go and how people tend to gravitate back to the old school simple methods!
I happen to be building an A-Frame in the next town over from you. I'm going for one over a basement, so it's effectively a normal house, sunk halfway into the ground. Antrim county is beautiful.
awesome! Which town?
@@NorthofNowhere. Mancelona. I'm also trying to buy the train station, but I have no idea if that's going to pan out.
TRUTH is what got me because you were sincere about not only the actual home but your overall content strategy around that..
Be careful with hitting the windows to get rid of a mosquito. I broke a windshield one time. I didn't realize that after the car was in 120F all day the windows don't need to much pressure to break.
I'm glad I found this. I'm also in Michigan and have been tossing around an A frame construction like yours (just not elevated). Sounds like it isn't as cheap as I thought it would be
TLDR; don't put your retirement dreams in the hands of AirBnb. (which may or may not even be allowed by the time you finish your cabin in your area)
Yeah, to hell with AirBnd. They're tying up housing. There's a housing shortage. People need full-time homes, Vacationers can get a camper or something.
We had one drawn up and put builder is charging $240/sqft. It’ll be in northern NM. It’s 1000sqft and lumber quote was $115k! I think that’s steep and will shop around.
did you look into A frame kits?
5:36 - That style of adding onto an A-frame makes a lot of sense. It also makes it stand out among other typical designs. The addition is a great place to put the bathroom and utilities, and doesn't have to cost a ton.
*One thing to consider:*
Some _VERY_ profitable rentals were built on the cheap with bare-bones amenities - as the *location* is more important to the guests than the comforts of a modern house. Many people who rent these places simply want a quaint "rustic" getaway in nature, and will spend most of their time outdoors, not the house itself. Thus the outdoor amenities - like a porch with furniture, a fire pit, hot tub, etc. - are perhaps more important than a pristine modern interior.
There are a couple large old A frames in my neighborhood. They stand out in from the craftsman style and Tudors that were popular in the area at the time.
they certainly stand out!
I built a 1200 sq ft A Frame in South Texas on Canyon Lake. It is high spec house wrapped in cedar with a standing seam metal roof backed by titanium sheeting to protect against hail which will kill a roof in my area. Not cheap at all as I could have built a normal 3000 sq foot house for the same money. My house is on a slope so I had concrete piers poured on top of huge block footers that go down to the Texas limestone. I spent $60K on the foundation engineering and materials alone (2012). I am a retired engineer who worked in Seattle, Philly and Texas for that famous aerospace company years ago so my house is definitely overbuilt. I also have 2 X 6 outer walls and spray foam as well as composite laminated beams in the floors and my rafters are also spray foamed as well as the underfloor area. I have a wood stove that gets me through the occasional power outage in the winter and the house is all electric and on a aerobic septic system. I maintain a 75 degree temperature year round (I mostly COOL the house with a/c as it is South Texas) and you can feel the temperature drop as you step into it from the plus 100 degree heat most spring/summer/fall days. It is located across the street that fronts the lake, and the edge of my first floor deck is 14 feet above the ground. It is nestled in live oak trees and folks refer to it as the tree house. The view is outstanding and the sunsets are fantastic. And it is the ONLY A frame on my street as Texans prefer more massive style homes. My tiny house stands out in the crowd. Plus being tiny for a Texas house my property taxes are also tiny as you are taxed on square footage and I just have a 2 bedroom 2 bath. A frames are not for everyone but if you do one correctly you will have a house that will stand out from the crowd.
Hi, do you know a reputable place that has blue prints for an approximate 700 sq foot A frame in Texas?
@@Outdoor-Hour I bought my plans from a plan service and downloaded a pdf which I gave to the builder to make full size prints from. The designer is from Vancouver BC so I had to retrofit air conditioning as the plan only had baseboard heating. I'd look into the new mini split a/c systems for a 700 sq ft place in Texas.
I love A Frames; as a matter of fact I'm looking bc I want a tiny home. Thank you for sharing!
we love them too. Good luck on your tiny home!
Look up deek diedrickson. I built a tiny a frame for a couple thousand dollars based on his plans. That wasn’t with salvaging materials other than a bit of siding- talking a real steel door with double locks, sliding screened windows, laminate flooring, solar powered interior lights, etc
What about building an "A" Frame in a much warmer climate like in Arizona or New Mexico?
climate is a huge factor. We have snow load requirement and insulation requirements that add cost here in Northern Michigan, so that would help!
We are building a 1400 sq ft aframe in Washington state in the Cascades. Our state building codes are more strict than Michigan (I know because I am from michigan and have built there). We have heavy snow and earthquakes (something Michiganians don't deal with). Our aframe will have a standing seam metal roof, like the one noted in this video. Our build costs are $250 per sq ft. That doesn't include septic ($25k), electricity extension ($20k), final appliances, or the price of land. But it does include the foundation.
The costs discussed in this video made me bust out laughing. Getting engineered lumber, roofing, and insulation is not that difficult or all that expensive. R Value requirements also don't require spray foam. We are managing our own project, not using a general contractor, which only doubles costs.
I like it, but would make bump-outs on the sides.
the one we designed had a bump-out on one of the sides for two queen bunk beds and a bathroom!
Great job on your video and very good points as well. Maybe because I'm not from a social media generation, but for me I have zero thought of standing out or not. An A-Frame can do well with spray foam insulation, foundation with insulation and in floor heating/HVAC provided by geo-thermal. Geo-thermal BTW even works exceptionally well even in Northern Mi where I also live (Cheboygan). Spray foam and geo-thermal are both items that make you cry once but pay huge dividends in the long run. My older home (but well insulated) has a 15 year old geo-thermal system and my biggest electric bill in the coldest winter months has never exceeded $240. I'm also a big user of electric in general.
totally understand and if you're not building an a-frame for a business purpose like we were, I'm all for them. We'd still love to build one someday. Agreed on the spray and in-floor comment. Initial price is hard to swallow, but long-term efficiency makes it worth it. We are doing that on the smaller cabin build we just started.
@@NorthofNowhere. I cvompletely get where you're coming from and likely making the best decision for what your goals are.
I will bet 95 percent of builders have never built an A Frame. When inexperience makes them scared, the price goes up. Most prefer to build what they know.
that is very true.
I live in tropical country without snow and logs and Wood are pretty cheap here. Is building A shape house like this will cost more efficient than building a traditional concrete house?
I live in tropical country as well.. I'm considering build the second floor out of wood because it's cheaper, probably.. but what about the insulation since the location is directly in equator and it's very hot here..
It also helps in snowy weather with an A roof shape
Well, I will build my house myself (with help from family) and build code in my country is less strict. I think A-frame is a good idea then
This video was extremely helpful. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Hm... The metal material for the roof (trapeze sheet metal), thickness of.. 0.6mm (with insulation felt) we pay usually around 9 dollars per square meter (10.7639104 square feet), so it comes about less than 1 dollar per square foot. I dont know why over there the materials are so expensive..
I'd like to see the cost of an A-frame and a Geodesic dome house of similar floor area to see where the cost-benefits land. My guess is the geodesic house would not be as visually attractive as an A-frame but would cost less to build.
A-frames are simple and cheap to build, as long as you design them on the basis of which materials you have access to.
For instance, back in the 60s-70s, you'd find 24' long dimensionnal lumber, which is not the case anymore. That being said, you'll find 20' long dimensionnal lumber pretty much everywhere. For instance, a 2x10x20 currently sells for less than 30 CAD in Quebec.
Obviously, that would make the cabin a lot smaller than what you were working on, but that explains the price difference.
agreed. I think you have to be very intentional and have a good architect that has experience with a-frames. Ours was engineered to death and caused the material price to sky-rocket.
We have property on Beaver Island MI. Honestly most of the cost for us is LABOR! doing it ourselves will save a ton of $$. We arent building as big as your images as well so we wont need as much material. hope it goes well for your build.
love Beaver Island! Yes, labor is definitely a large line item too. We strongly considered doing it ourselves, but we live 4 hours away and both work full-time. My guess is that it would take us at least twice as long to build it if we went that route, which is time that it could be rented and cash flowing. Depending on area and financials, the amount saved doing it yourself could be offset from lost income by having it in service sooner, if you're planning on making in a rental. If not, DIY is definitely the way to go.
There’s pros and cons to every housing style. Depends on what you want. Makes sense why you chose what you did. I would sacrifice living space for an A-frame. But I decided to live in a ranch style house built in 51, rather than a bigger two-three story house that looks like a box with what I consider no character. It comes with some challenges as beating and cooling isn’t as effective. All down to preference.
100%
cheapest house is the one the builder can frame the quickest, and trades can wire/plumb the easiest etc
yeah, unfortunately a lot of framers and subs aren't as used to A-frames as they are other stick builds, in our experience, which ends up adding cost.
I’m a account and I have casually been looking at building my own house for years and the numbers don’t ever add up correctly
Thank you for sharing the complete and detailed A-frame cabin construction process from design to completed construction.
thanks for watching!
I guess I'm not understanding why you need so much "engineered" lumber for "roof support" when the walls are pitched at such steep angles. Yes, you get a lotta snow. But it's not a snow load anywhere near that of a traditional or flat roof.
the insulation values required in the ceiling are high up here due to low temps, but our A-frame was definitely over engineered.
I think the engineers were playing it safe here.
Build your own. Way cheaper.
we considered it! And that certainly would've helped some, but we live 3.5 hours away from the build site and just wasn't feasible. Plus, it would've taken us much longer to do it ourselves and there's an opportunity cost for that too.
@NorthofNowhere. I understand. We're 8.5 hours from where our property is, and yes, it's definitely taking alot longer than I was expecting. Good luck with you're build. Hope everything works out for you guys.
thank you! you too!
The surface area of the roof is going to contribute to a lot of the cost.
For a 60 sq meters (646 sq fr) - 6 by 10 meters (20 by 33 ft) house ...
The surface area of the roof is
70 degree : 175 sq meters (1,884 sq ft), floor to roof height: 4.46 meters (14.63 ft)
60 degree : 120 sq meters (1,292 sq ft), floor to roof height: 4.05 meters (13.29 ft)
55 degree : 105 sq meters (1,130 sq ft), floor to roof height: 3.80 meters (12.47 ft)
50 degree : 93 sq meters (1,001 sq ft), floor to roof height: 3.54 meters (11.61 ft)
45 degree : 85 sq meters (915 sq ft), floor to roof height: 3.25 meters (10.66 ft)
If you don't like stairs you could go with no upper floors, and e.g. a 55 degree roof.
Great video and insight. Thanks!
Don't see too many A-Frames in mountains around SoCal - ones that do come on the market are snapped up instantly- maybe a day on the market or have a bidding war. So resale isn't a problem.
@northofnowhere thanks a lot for sharing all this information. Can I ask if you considered to use sandwich panel for the roof ?
2020 lumber prices were insane. I’m sure if you quoted it night the price will be way more reasonable. Your point about the saturation of A frames on the market is super valid though! Looking forward to seeing how you guys put a twist on the A-Frame!
thank you! Lumber was definitely more expensive when we quoted that out, but not at the peak. A lot of that cost was the engineered lumber.
"super valid" oh good grief...
I dont understand why you had to have LVL rafters. Why not just 2x10s? Sorry Im commenting as im watching
hmm..good question. I don't think the 2x10's would span as far as we needed, and obviously are more prone to warping and and twisting over time. I don't think our building department would allow it.
The A frames work very good in the jungle here in peru . How do you manage a rain in a tower design?
we have very sandy soil up here in michigan, so drainage is not usually an issue, and the steel roof keeps it out of the house.
Interesting topic and video but we stuck around through a long explanation hoping to see the benefits of the tower!
Another way to go is the arch design. I have seen this being done with steel for the arches, and end up with more room than a a frame.
Gothic arches would be nice.
Great video and thanks for sharing your experience. There are so many variables in this process, such as location. We built our Aframe (3550sqft) in the Midwest and managed to come in at $250-$260 / sqft (~$230 / sqft excluding land cost). We went with a kit from one of the companies you mentioned (~$90K cost for LVL lumber, sheathing, etc.) We got extremely lucky with our contractor who was will commit to a cost+ contract. This gave us much needed flexibility and transparency throughout the build. Also, building a larger cabin helps with cost efficiency as well. Doing this is only pragmatic if there's demand for larger capacity stays in your area.
awesome to hear that you guys were able to build one! Location is definitely a huge factor for us, as well as the lack of builders up here. The fixed costs of building is something we've learned along the way! Is it a personal cabin for you guys are a rental?
Sounds nice but WOW that is one pricey AirBnB to build!
Just found your channel and have subscribed. Good content. Where will you be building? I notice you wearing a Short’s hat; my wife and I just purchased property in Antrim County to be closer to family. We will be building our home in the near future so will be following your journey to learn what I can.
thank you! we're building in Bellaire, you?
Very useful video, thank you
it's expensive for 4 weathers.. in PH we only have 2 weather so this is the cheapest option..
definitely - all depends on local climate and building code!
Interesting, I was just checking airbnb here and I can’t find any aframes. Maybe it’s a Michigan thing? Idk
A-frame are very popular in Michigan, so it definitely depends on your location!
I laughed my head off when I saw the title. I can just about assemble an IKEA flat pack let alone a triangular building. But well done you two. ❤
I think Scandinavian homes are the best fit for the North side of the USA and Canada.
A 1 and 1/2-story home would offer a better dwelling area than A-frame, an ideal slope for solar panels ( 40-55 degrees) and won't break the bank.
Build it yourself, it ll take some time but be super cheap. I want one in Mi in the UP thats what brought me here. What ever you guys do, GL
thank you!
My Dad built one for my family when I was a kid. My parents broke up so we never got to live in it. I have land I'm going to build a mini A-frame to see if it is still what I want. I don't care about trends. I haven't seen any new A-frames built here in Australia. Pity about the cost over there and so many popping up.
do it! we still love them, but was more of a business decision for us rather than personal preference. we still want to build one someday
If you guys decide to sell the plan, i would get it! Im trying to make one in the Caribbean.
Where?
And when you build an "elevated" A-frame, what you're really doing is building a trad house with a huge roof. THAT'S why it was going to be so expensive. That and you were going to hire someone else to do it for you. You are supposed to build the A-frame yourself. Simple construction, it's a triangle so it's super-strong, lot's of storage on the floor. But, to each his own.
Uhhhh how do I get plans like your tower haha I love that that thing!!!!!
we might make them available one day!
Don't know what's exactly expensive, it's a timber frame construction,less complicated than standard timber frame house,an 250mm insulation will give you a an ur rating of 0.16-0.18 ,the A frame wall/roof area is basically the same as a one storey houses wall+roof area. Steel sheet roof is cheaper then wooden cladding which is painted and then needs to be repainted every 5 year's.
Well dude , you have a wife. I am looking to build whatever I want, wives are making it a LOT more difficult.
Good luck with that adventure. The whole point of me having a cabin would be to NOT have a wife, which changes the whole layout plan.
I am thinking cedar and stuff now, walls are optional, it's whatever !. Freedom is awesome, totally underrated lifestyle nowadays.
I have lived downtown with all the fancy people in suits and dresses and I absolutely hated going out, every time and it's hard to pretend it's fun to be surrounded by loud people.
The peace and quiet = priceless. Me going out with other people and whomever, someone is one bad joke away from being slapped at the gala.
If I hear one more robot voice saying "error" or "please", I am going to scream because I am now anti- chip, microchips are a bad idea. I will use a digital studio for music, entertainment but I don't need this for a cabin so, I believe my studio will stay here for a long time.
The only issue is my fish...they weigh you down, they can live a long time but they are nothing like dogs, fish need a warm spot. I can only leave them for a few days here or there, feeding blocks. I'd like to be close to some decent water for fishing or kayaking in the northwoods, preferably not Mn because because of rules and regulations, otherwise not bad land, I love Leech Lake and that is beautiful spot to fish. Iron river Wisconsin, maybe there somewhere not far from Michigan upper peninsula or anywhere up there is nice.
I am a weird guy, don't want any attention, if I wanted then I can break some silly world records, but nah forget viral videos. If I wanted to make money then it's better than Onlyfans option, for me. Do anything that can get attention is all that matters. Do a parlor trick, that's all you needed to do. Learn to nunchuk and then be like, hah...look at this. You can learn any tricks if you wanted enough. The tricks people do now, are literally played out and there's gonna be many consequences for people's actions once they settle in and make sense. One of those consequences is marriage, you would need to be dumb to marry someone in 2025, sorry but good luck everyone ?.
I don't think many more people will be officially married, least not in the USA. These young guys care more about Superman comics than their girlfriends, you can insult those but not Superman, don't insult his hero's pants. Seriously not kidding, I can say whatever I want to a female online and nobody cares, If I insult Superman I get hate mail for days, weeks...how dare you bro ?. What is even your problem, bro ?. Ahaha. I don't think we have many more besides off grid options, in the future and eventually my fish and my studio probably will go up north too, I don't need people anymore for any reason.
You guys will not recover society, my future in nature looks promising but nobody living in society has a bright future, sorry. You guys are just blind and slow to process the info that's in our faces. The option or decision to continue society on a shaky path or slope was intentionally planned out, people fell into a financial trap and then fell off the slope picking up 100$ bills. A good viral social experiment is the 100$ bill experiment, NOT...I already seen what people will do for loose 100$ bills and it's primal. Whoever thought society could possibly survive teenage girls doing Onlyfans to support themselves in college is delusional and will now suffer, for the short remainder of life. The things I am saying, sorry but it is important if people like or not, people will not recover from this and everyone will be off grid in 10 years, you guys made the right move early.
I love A-frames ❤! Especially ones built in the 1960's and 70's!
Now i want an A-frame!
they are cool looking!
I appreciate anyone that takes the time of making content that's more than them just goofing around on the camera, with that in mind however I feel like people coming your channel should know that you're not here building this stuff for your own personal use, and I definitely feel like the title of your video is kind of I wouldn't say clickbait but it definitely makes someone who doesn't know what your channel is about go oh no what's wrong with a frames I better click it
I don’t need building codes where I live and don’t need no city code enforcer telling me how to cut my grass.
A Frames are for short people. And If you can build yourself the tower design is way more efficient way to build. A Frames are easy but the roofing is costly for the net square footage. They go up quick but interior space is limited.
true!
blah blah blah the roofing is costly.
No consideration for the vast reduction in siding cost?
was expecting what you should build???? other than an A-frame cabin....what happen???? AirB&B ????
which software are you using for design?
Sketchup browser edition.
At 30 sec into video, a shot of a vintage newspaper with a headline that reads, "Stepchildren literally eat like pigs". Lol. . .
Is that a 3-story tower? I would not build a 3-story tower without an elevator (and that elevator is adding like15-20k)
That's how you stand out on AirBnb😀
yes it is 3 stories, 4 if you include the basement.
Where or from whom did you purchase your tower kit
they are custom plans that we designed and worked with an architect to create
@@NorthofNowhere. Hello, could you tell me what program you use to design your own plans?
How much was the total cost for the tower?
making a video on that soon, but about 20-30% more.
7:39 - I bet Airbnb did that change because it means more profit for them; the company doesn't want customers to be enticed by lower cost "mom & pop" offerings. They want people to splurge on emotion & luxury.
Sort of like how car manufacturers will advertise their expensive flagship models more in an effort to steer buyers away from their lower profit ones.
definitely agree!
I just checked Airbnb in Ireland we have not even one A frame😂
I found one single story tiny room in Killarney, what looks like A frame.
sounds like there is an opportunity for one in your area!
Whatever you decide on building, make sure you use plenty of nails! Pound them in good now... LOL! Nice video. Thank you.
haha we will! thanks for watching!
Could i get some info on the tower..i am going to build 6 units and would like to get some info if possible.
more info on that coming soon!
Also interested in the tower info. Please let me know.
I'm in MI (lower peninsula) and planned to built an A frame. This was depressing.
Lower MI is much different than upper MI. More builders and competition leads to better pricing, so that could help! It can be done, but a lot of what you read online is vastly different than what you hear when you start talking to builders.
Dishing builders of 50s and 60s like that was just wrong on so many levels! Those people were more skilled and their work often was ten times better than workers of today!
Otherwise thanks for the info! I think the problem is that A Frames are very popular today and for that reason builders tend to give bigger prices as well.
I didn't dish the builders. I simply said building codes and ordinances were not nearly as robust back then, which is true. Agree on the popularity leading to higher cost too!
I was going to build the house of my dreams, but I did not think people on social media would LIKE.. OK GOT IT. I stopped the video at that point.
I'm wondering if in Louisiana it would be cheaper. No real winter
definitely would be! you don't need nearly the amount on insulation or snow-load requirements.
@@NorthofNowhere. yeah,but you need insulation for AC and even removing humidity /that's optional though/
Interesting information and well presented. I really liked the input on changes to Air B&B that could impact a property if you were renting it or A-B&Bing it. I have been researching building an a-frame because of the snow load problem in Alaska and cutting costs compared to traditional box building. With 1 caveat I found pretty much the direct opposite on costs though. The caveat is that contractors (the average contractor) typically doesn't know what to do with nontraditional building techniques and either doesn't know how to bid it or just ask stupid prices hoping you go away but will build it if you are dumb enough to pay them. I actually had two contractors tell me $400 a square foot is that number for them (in the height of covid). One also told me they treat each floor as the same square footage as the bottom floor even if it's just a loft on each end.
Fascinating! The choice of design and where the construction takes place can absolutely make a big difference in terms of costs, something we experienced firsthand. I'd imagine that Northern Michigan shares similarities with Alaska in the sense that we both face a shortage of builders, leading to minimal competition and inflated estimates being offered in hopes of landing some lucrative projects. When you factor in that a majority of individuals are purchasing homes using cash up here due to some of the most desirable lakefront property in the Midwest, it certainly adds to the challenges. Best of luck with your build!
The point of A frame is not standing out but to have a home resistant to snow loads....
that certainly is a benefit, but I think in more recent years the geometry and eye appeal of them is what has caused a wave of them to be built. You're seeing them in climates that hardly get any snow.
@@NorthofNowhere. Yea fair enough. Being from Europe things are a bit different here. We have building regulations so you couldn't build one where it doesn't fit.
Interesting video! Have some property under contract near Jackson hole and was wanting to build an A frame for air bnb as well but may look into other options. Thanks!
Love Jackson Hole! Was just there last year hiking in the Tetons. I'm pro A-frame if you can find a contractor to build one affordably and if they're aren't 100 other A-frames in your area already. There are a bunch near us and being built which was a big factor in our decision. Keep us posted if you start building!
One of my friends lived in a yurt there in Jackson. The area is/was called yurt-ville , it had on site laundry, bathrooms and showers. I don't know if it still exists because at the time around 2005-10 the property was owned by a woman in her 90s. All the yurt ville residents were not sure if she have to sell her land to the national park yurt ville sits on
. Property owning is very strange in Jackson, you can own the home but not the land it sits on its a lease . Even stranger if you want and qualify to buy a home there under market value you are placed on a waiting list , my friend was on the waiting list for 9yrs. The program is designed for the residents of Jackson that are fireman, police, teachers nurses and any PT therapist ( my friend is a PT ) all those salaries are too low to buy a regular home, TH condo ect in Jackson. It was program developed by town of Jackson. Without this program these people w these occupations would have to live min 3hrs++ away to afford it to commute to Jackson to work.
that is so interesting. I remember looking at real estate price while we were there and it was shocking to see some of the prices for 1000 sqft condos. Makes total sense why they created that program, but kind of a bummer when it comes to people like you trying to build!
Great explanation and story telling, but surely it was just the size that made it a no go. I dont feel like A frames are supposed to be anywhere near the sixe you huys were going for. Most ive ever stayed in here and europe, theyre basically a small living room/kitchen/bathroom downstairs and a very small bedroom upstairs. Yours was goong to be a mansion 😅
ours was around 1300 sqft, which isn't terribly large, but certainly not a tiny home.
@@NorthofNowhere. For a traditional home, I suppose not. Bit for an A frame, that's huge. The average house size here in the UK is just less than 1000 square foot haha
should have just bought a 50 state approved a frame cabin kit
Absolutely phenomenal video ! I am about to build a home in the mountains and was looking at an A-Frame.
This has made me seriously re think that idea! Also, I cannot find anyone who can build one so there is also that…….
good builders are hard to come by these days! best of luck and hope you can start on something soon!
This was awesome. You’ve nailed the story telling, and that makes total sense. Thanks for sharing this was really great advice.
always appreciate the support and kindness Benny!
Why could you not put the roof on yourself? It really not not that complex especially for
an Aframe
It's not complex but you do need three people usually if there is wind and the aframe is large as the panels are long and bendy and will damage if bent. But I kinda had fun putting mine on